"Deadpool" movie given release date

20th Century Fox and Marvel Studios have announced that the X-Men spin-off 'Deadpool' will be released on February 12, 2016.

The character appeared in the 2009 film 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine', with Ryan Reynolds playing the part.

And it is widely anticipated that Reynolds, 37, will assume the part once more when the eagerly-awaited film goes into production.

Although his participation in the project is still to be officially confirmed, it has been revealed by the movie studios that the film will hit cinema screens in 2016, which will come as a relief to fans, many of whom had started to wonder whether the flick would ever be made.

Last year, in fact, director Tim Miller felt it necessary to reassure fans of the character that the 'Deadpool' movie was still alive.

He told Clevver Movies: ''Deadpool is still alive and we're just waiting for the studio to embrace what an amazingly f*****g awesome film this would be.''

The director added: ''Ryan is ready. The fans are more than ready. We just need that elusive green light.